Stethoscope



' Feb. 15, 1927;

1,617,652 S. SATO STETHOS COPE Filed July 9, 1925 INVENTOR. mzuo 5 441-0 Y MAM A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

" SHIZUO SATO, or OSAKO-SHI, JAPAN.

STETHOSCOPE.

Application filed July 9,

My invention relates to stethoscopes and more particularly to those, in the class specified, having asound collector with two forked" legs, towhich flexible rubber tubes 5 are respectively secured in order to enable the sound" to be transmitted through themselves tothe ears of the-auscultator or the doctor.

' In the preferred embodiment of my in- TO vention, the stethoscope comprises a pair of nipples or car pieces, a pair of rubber tubes,

a sound collector and an elastic ball member, which last two members constitute the novel features of my invention.

An object of my invention is to provide a stethoscope'of which the open trumpet end of the sound collector can be readily and firmly caused to adhere to the part to be tested in order to obtain a clear and correct test or auscultation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stethoscope of which the several parts are readily taken apart for repairing or cleaning. A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the stethoscope may be readily applied to or removed from the part to be auscultated.

Other objects and advantages of my in- I Q vention will be fully understood, together I with its construction and features, by refer- I once to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a pers ective view of a complete stethoscope embo ying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an underside view of the sound collector of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the sound collector and a portion of its continuation taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed section of ofthe sound collector.

.Referring now to the drawings, the em bodiment comprises a tubular or hollow sound collector S, having a forked end member C, each leg of which is provided with a passage therethrough and continued by a rubber tube 6 ending by a nipple 5,. The sound collector S, comprises a bell or bowlshaped endmember A, having a bell or trumpet-shaped middle opening 1 formed and surrounded by a flange 1 and continued b theforked passages of the member C, and also having an outer annular flange 7, provided with an annular recess 8 which sura part 1925. Serial No. 42,557.

rounds the flange 1. A plurality of ports 2 are provided and arranged in an annular series in the bowl and opening into the annular recess 8 between the flanges l and 7. The member A has a central hollow extension 3 having screw threads on its outer cylindrical surface. The sound collector S also comprises a coupler or tubular portion B adapted to receive the extension 3, when screwed therein. The coupler B has an annular extension or enlargement provided with a plurality of ports 4:, designed and arranged to register with the ports 2, forming a plurality of continned communications 2-4.

The coupler B also receives the screw threaded end 9 of the forked end member 0.

An elastic ball member D, such as of rubher or like material, has two openings or cuts, adapted to allow the collector S to be passed therethrough as shown in Fig. 3. The diameters of said openings are such that their edges may respectively fit the outer periphery of the hollow extension 9 of the member C and an annular groove 10 in the upper annular surface of the body of the member A. By this arrangement, the ball D can be secured to and partly enclose the sound collector, the edge of one of the openings being inserted and secured between the end of the member B and the corresponding shoulder of the members 0 and A.

In using the stethoscope above illustrated, the ball D is grasped to expel the air therein through the ports 4 and 2, before the sound collector is applied to the part to be auscultated, and released after the sound collector is applied with its bowl-shaped member A contacting with the part to which the stethoscope is applied. On release of the ball D, suction will be produced on the expansion of the ball and the cup will adhere to the part to which it has been applied, without the necessity of grasping the flexible or rubber tubes 6 in order to secure an adhesion of the sound collector to the part. Moreover the adhesion of the sound collector is very strong, and it is not necessary to hold the device in place. An extremely clear and pure auscultation of sounds 'will be obtained, without any external noises.

In this way very correct and clear auscultation of murmurs of embryos, mixed sounds of wombs or placenta, murmurs of patients in a syncoptic or dying condition, etc. will be obtained.

To detach the stethoscope the ball D is squeezed whereupon the device can be removed Without' difliculty.

Though I have disclosed only one embodiment of my invention, it Will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications and substitutions can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the aforesaid invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that What I claim is.

1. A stethoscope comprising a pair of nipples, a pair of flexible tubes, a sound collector and an elastic enclosure, surrounding the body of said sound collector and with its interior in communication through a plurality of ports with a recess surrounding the bell-shaped open end of said sound, collector.

2. A stethoscope, comprising a pair of nipples, a pair of rubbber tubes, a sound collector and a flexible ball, said sound collector consisting of a forked end member, a bell-shaped end member and a coupler for uniting said two members to form a continual passage for the sound collector, and said rubber ball substantially enclosing said coupler and having communication with an annular recess provided around the bellshaped open end of said bell-shaped end member. I

3. A stethoscope comprising means for collecting sound in a patient to be auscultate'd,,means for providing a deformable but self-restoring enclosed space, and means for discharging air in said space through an opening arranged around but independently of the end opening of said sound collecting means.

SI-IIZUO SATO. 

